Bob Clarkson National Party Associate Building & Construction Spokesman

8 December 2005

Leaky homes process burns money while houses rot

National's Associate Building & Construction spokesman, Bob Clarkson, says the leaky homes system is sucking up taxpayers' money while people wait in rotting homes for action.

The Department of Building and Housing confirmed to Parliament's Social Services Select committee yesterday that the cost of the paperwork to arrange the fixing of a leaky home averages about $100,000 per home.

"This wretched system is setting fire to taxpayers' money while people sit in rotting homes," says Mr Clarkson.

"It's an outrage. This money doesn't go to fixing the houses. It just funds the cumbersome process that this Government has chosen to shirk its responsibility for fixing the problem.

"It's a wasteful disaster that adds to the misery of people who own these houses.

"Are we to believe that a house where repairs may cost $20,000 has an overhead cost of $100,000 just to sort out the paperwork?

"Taxpayers are not getting a fair go, that's for certain. They are paying money for paper shuffling, not house fixing.

"If it were me, I would take the $100,000 it costs for the paperwork and fix the house for nothing.

"I am continually astounded at the many ways this Government finds to make bonfires of hard-working taxpayers' money."

ENDS

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